Colleague Dirk Wockener went out and about with Binod in ­Oberhausen

Immersion in a new culture

By changing his workplace, Binod Kumar Patel gained valuable insights that are still benefiting him.

Combining professional goals and personal ambitions is a hallmark of the International Rotation program. Binod Kumar Patel, Head of Proposals, can confirm this. He runs the quoting process for screw compressors from Vadodara, India. Professionally, it was an obvious choice for him to apply for the program so that he could work in Oberhausen for a while. The decision made sense for him personally too: “I had the feeling that the program was a good opportunity to boost my confidence, engage with different perspectives, and cultivate a more open and inclusive worldview. Living in a new country creates unique memories and stories that become an important part of your life.”

Better long-distance collaboration too

During his three-month stay in Germany, Binod immersed himself in local life, explored the country and even tried to learn German. He has fond memories of his time in Oberhausen: “I learned new approaches for dealing with sales projects and for project management. I gained profound insights into the workflows in the Product Center and got to know my colleagues better, which is making long-distance collaboration much, much easier too.” Together with the Product Management team, Binod developed, among other things, a business case for screw compressor packaging in India in order to provide the Executive Board with a decision-making basis. He also often spent time on the shop floor so as to learn more about machine assembly. “I love the experience I gained through this program and believe that it will help to intensify collaboration,” says Binod with conviction.

“Just do it!”

Christoph Keller from Augsburg temporarily relocated his workstation to Copenhagen and would not have missed the experience for the world.

When he read about the ­International Rotation program on the intranet, Christoph Keller did not hesitate for a moment. The product safety engineer from Augsburg jumped at the chance to apply for an exchange with ­Copenhagen. “I was already in regular contact with my Danish colleagues from Two-Stroke Engines, so it made sense for me from a professional point of view to target Copenhagen for an exchange. On a personal level, I was curious about what living and working in the Danish capital would be like.” Thanks to the support of his boss in Augsburg, his application was approved quickly and Christoph was soon on his way to the fairytale country of ‘hygge’ and Hans ­Christian Andersen. Upon his arrival, he was most impressed by the Danes’ knack for digitalization and innovation. “I liked their openness and curiosity about new things from the outset. The high degree of digitalization can be felt everywhere in day-to-day life in ­Copenhagen.” He soon made friends in the MAN office. “I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to feel comfortable and accepted in the team and the office. I had expected it to take me a while to settle in and find my feet in the new team. But colleagues in Copenhagen, and in Product Safety Risk ­Management & Claim Handling (ELMW) in particular, made things very easy for me. The fantastic support from my home department, Engine ­Integration (EEPSI), was another plus.”

Looking back

Several months have passed since he returned to Augsburg, but, according to ­Christoph, the contacts and collaboration are still influencing his work. “We have already leveraged synergies in both departments, as well as defining and implementing initial improvements. Personal contact with ­Copenhagen has made the exchange of knowledge much easier and boosted the motivation to share knowledge.” Incidentally, Christoph’s successful rotation led to a colleague from Risk Management in ­Copenhagen signing up for the program as well.

Professional and personal development

In addition to professional development, Christoph also feels that he has grown personally thanks to his experiences abroad. “I not only expanded my technical knowledge, but developed my soft skills too. Working with colleagues desk to desk makes virtual working much easier afterwards. It was a real booster for my business network.” His advice to anyone considering an international rotation is clear-cut: “Just do it! You will get a great sense of the culture, mindset and way of working abroad. And it gives you the opportunity to develop personally and acquire a more global perspective.”

For Christoph Keller, the International Rotation Program was a real booster for his business network.

Marcus toured the plants to experience engine assembly at first hand

Looking beyond the screen

Three countries in three months. And countless business meals with some karaoke thrown in. There was a lot to digest when Marcus Toft ­Garbenfeldt returned home to Denmark in ­summer 2024.

As Business Development Manager in the Approbation project conducted in License Sales & Services, Marcus Toft Garbenfeldt was tasked with finalizing contracts with suppliers of our engine parts such as filters, sensors and valves for our two-stroke engines. According to ­Marcus, quality control of the components is vitally important: “Through approbation we create a comprehensive contractual framework, thereby ensuring a sustainable relationship between our company and third-party suppliers, and supporting our localization strategy.” So far, more than 100 components are under approbation management. Since the suppliers are mainly based in Region Asia Pacific, it made sense for Marcus to meet them in person.

Invaluable interactions

The first stop was China, followed by stays in ­Japan and South Korea. “What I enjoyed most was spending time with our colleagues on the spot, as well as meeting a lot of our partners and customers from the industry. These interactions were invaluable and provided insights that go far beyond what contact via screen can convey,” says Marcus with conviction. The business case has already proved itself. According to Marcus, the ­International Rotation program played a key role in this: “It is a great initiative. It enabled me to gather market insights and set up approval management. And I was able to collaborate with colleagues in the Region and get to know their daily routine.

Fulfilling a dream

Project manager Rosa Cavalcanti is always on the ball, whether in Pompano Beach or Augsburg.

I want to develop and grow constantly. But contact with other business areas is sometimes a bit limited in an International Group Company,” says Rosa Cavalcanti, describing her motivation for applying for the International ­Rotation program. A dream came true for her when her boss, Thomas Juul, offered her the chance to go to Augsburg to draw inspiration from colleagues in Group Communication & Marketing. “I learned a lot, including how projects are initiated in Marketing, how ideas for webinars come about and how data is collected from digital campaigns,” Rosa explains.

“Be curious”

After work, she had the opportunity to explore Augsburg and the surrounding area. “I soon felt at home in Augsburg and did a lot of cycling. Visiting the weekly market on Saturday was almost a ritual.” She was also able to get to know the Zurich, Manchester and Copenhagen sites during her stay in Europe. Back in Florida, she was promoted and given the chance to put her new skills into practice. Her advice: “Use every minute you are there to get to know new people and make new contacts. Be curious and ask as many questions as possible.”

Rosa, a passionate photographer, at the football match between FC Bayern Munich and FC Augsburg